Marriage requirements for New Zealand Citizens marrying in Italy
It often surprises New Zealand couples to learn that even the New Zealand Government advises its citizens to engage a local wedding agent or legal representative when planning a civil wedding in Italy.
This official recommendation highlights two things:
- Italian marriage procedures vary significantly between municipalities
- The legal framework involves multiple authorities: Embassy, Prefettura, and Comune
As your appointed legal team in Italy, we handle every step on your behalf — from contacting the New Zealand Embassy, retrieving the Nulla Osta, and legalising it at the Prefettura, to coordinating with the Comune, interpreter, witnesses, and celebrant.
🛂 Step 1 – Obtaining the Nulla Osta from the New Zealand Embassy
To marry in Italy, New Zealand citizens must obtain a Nulla Osta from the New Zealand Embassy in Rome.
This is the only document recognised by Italian authorities as proof that you are free to marry.
⚠️ Important:
The Certificate of No Impediment issued in New Zealand cannot replace the Nulla Osta.
It must be submitted to the Embassy, which will then issue the Italian-compliant Nulla Osta.
What We Do for You
As your legal representatives in Italy, we handle the entire Embassy procedure:
- Contacting the Embassy directly on your behalf
- Preparing and submitting the complete application package
- Paying the Embassy fee (€60) and any courier fees (€30)
- Coordinating with the Consular Officer
- Receiving the Nulla Osta at our office
- Legalising the Consul’s signature at the competent Prefettura
- Delivering the legalised Nulla Osta to the Comune or celebrant
You never need to contact the Embassy directly or travel for paperwork.
📄 Required Documents (as per MFAT guidelines)
We prepare, submit, and verify all documents.
Typical requirements include:
- Cover letter with your contact details, intended wedding date, and our address (as your legal representatives)
- Original Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (no apostille required)
- Certified photocopies of the biodata page of each passport
- Completed form: “Particulars for Inclusion in a Nulla Osta”
- If applicable:
- Decree nisi or order of dissolution (if divorced)
- Death certificate (if widowed)
💡 If the bride is divorced, Italian law requires 300 days to have passed from the date of the divorce decree.
📦 Embassy Address (Official MFAT Information)
All applications are submitted to:
New Zealand Embassy
Via Clitunno 44
00198 Rome – Italy
We prepare the full package and send it directly following MFAT guidelines.
🏛️ Step 2 – Declaration at the Italian Town Hall (Comune)
Before the ceremony, all couples must complete the Dichiarazione di Matrimonio (Declaration of Intent).
This step confirms that no legal impediments exist according to Articles 85–88 and Art. 87 of the Italian Civil Code.
We schedule the appointment and, when legally permitted, represent you.
Case A: New Zealand Citizens Not Residing in Italy
Non-residents must:
- Attend a brief appointment 1–2 days before the ceremony
- Sign the Declaration of No Impediments
In some municipalities such as Venice or Rome, the declaration may occur on the same day as the wedding.
Case B: One Spouse Residing in Italy or an Italian Citizen 🇮🇹
If one partner:
- Is an Italian citizen
- OR resides in Italy
then marriage banns (Pubblicazioni) are mandatory.
Banns are posted for 11 days at:
- The spouse’s Comune of residence, or
- The Italian Consulate abroad if registered with A.I.R.E.
After banns expire, the couple may marry in that Comune or request a transfer to another municipality in Italy.
📣 Step 3 – Civil Banns (If Required)
Most New Zealand couples do not need banns unless:
- One spouse is resident in Italy
- One spouse is Italian and registered with A.I.R.E.
We handle all communication with the Comune or Consulate and ensure the correct procedure is followed based on your case.
🌍 Sworn Interpreter Requirements
Italian law requires a professional interpreter if either spouse does not speak Italian fluently.
A sworn interpreter is mandatory for:
- The Declaration of Intent
- The Civil Wedding Ceremony
We provide interpreters with a legal background, ensuring clarity and compliance.
👥 Witnesses
Two adult witnesses (18+) are required for civil weddings.
If you are travelling alone or prefer not to involve guests:
🤝 We can provide official witnesses.
🛂 Summary: Nulla Osta + Prefettura Legalisation
- You submit your New Zealand documents to us
- We submit the application to the New Zealand Embassy
- The Embassy issues the Nulla Osta
- We retrieve it and bring it to the Prefettura for legalisation
- We deliver the final legalised document to the Comune
This ensures the Italian registrar has everything needed to confirm your eligibility to marry.
💍 Step 4 – The Civil Wedding Ceremony in Italy
The ceremony:
- Is performed by the Mayor or Deputy Mayor
- Requires two witnesses
- Must be interpreted by a sworn interpreter if needed
- Takes place at an authorised venue (town hall, castle, villa, garden, beach, etc.)
We coordinate the entire legal process with the Comune to ensure:
- All documents are approved on time
- Ceremony timing is confirmed
- Interpreter and witnesses are arranged
- No administrative steps are left unresolved
🇳🇿 What the New Zealand Government Officially States (MFAT)
According to the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade:
- New Zealand citizens must obtain a Nulla Osta from the Embassy in Rome
- The Certificate of No Impediment does not replace the Nulla Osta
- The Nulla Osta must be legalised by an Italian Prefettura
- Procedures vary between municipalities
- The MFAT recommends engaging a local wedding agent to ensure compliance
Our service is structured exactly around these requirements — giving you full legal coverage and complete peace of mind.
✨ Why New Zealand Couples Choose Us
- Full Embassy, Prefettura, and Comune handling
- Legal team specialised in international weddings
- No travel needed for paperwork
- Experience with complex cases (divorces, AIRE, mixed citizenship)
- Transparent communication and step-by-step guidance
- Coordination of interpreter, witnesses, and celebrant
Your only responsibility is to enjoy your wedding day — we take care of everything else.
Written by Alessandro Pirrò
Alessandro is a former legal advisor to the Italian Government and has worked with top law firms in Rome, focusing on international marriage and recognition abroad. He now supports foreign couples getting legally married in Italy, offering expert guidance on paperwork, consular requirements and legal recognition in their home country.
Our firm will assist you throughout the procedure to legally marry in Italy
Due to our experience in law firms and the foreign offices of the Italian public administration, we gained significant expertise in Consular affairs, and we are trained to solve the most complicated procedure such as:
- Marriage Nulla osta process, legalization procedure, Court hearings for the refusal of the town hall when there documents missing , legal translation, apostille procedure, emergency procedure for legalization.
- Immigration law services and consular support for non-EU citizens applying for a Schengen visa.
- Family reunification and family cohesion.
- Same-sex couples that want to celebrate a civil union in Italy when in their country the union is forbidden.
- Couples that come from countries where divorce is not allowed;
Italians living abroad registered at A.I.R.E. that need to recover their document to start the marriage banns in the Italian Consulate. - Assistance with people that come from countries that do not release the nulla osta.
- American and Australian couples who need assistance with “atto notorio” in an Italian Court or the Italian Consulate in the USA or Australia.
- People with refugee status who have requested asylum in Italy.
